Guide-gage for hewing timber



J. HOKE.

Log Gage.

No. 18,974. Patented Dec. 29.1857.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB I-IOKE, OF GRAND DETOUR, ILLINOIS.

GUIDE-GAGE FOR HEWING TIMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent No To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB HoKE, of Grand Detour, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois, have invented a. new and Improved Implement or Device for hilarking or Lining ()if Timber so that the Same May Be Squared Correctly; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is an end view of a stick of timber with my improvement applied to it. Fig. 2 is a side view of ditto with my improvement applied to it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to obviate the difliculty and trouble attending the squaring of timber by means of the usual straight'edges, and not only to insure the accurate marking or lining off of the timber or logs, but also to expedite the work to a very considerable degree.

The invention consists in the employment or use of two squares properly graduated, each arm being provided with a graduated slide and the parts so arranged that the log or stick of timber may be marked at once at four sides if necessary or desired, and without adjustingthe squares after being properly fitted to the stick or log.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invent-ion I will proceed to describe it.

A, A, represent two squares which may be constructed of steel and properly graduated on each arm (a) (7)) into inches and fractional parts thereof. The arms of the squares may extend a certain distance beyond the arms (6), as shown at (a), so that said portions ((4') may serve as center poises and retain the squares, upon the stick or log before they are secured to it as will be hereinafter described. On the arms (a) (b) of each square a slide (0) is placed. These slides are merely straight metal bars, having a mortise or rectangular opening made through one end to allow the arms (b) to pass through, and a spring or any elastic substance (cl) should be placed in said mortises or openings and interposed between the edges of the arms and the ends of the openings so that springs may be pressed against the arms by set screws (e) and secured thereon at any desired point.

. 18,974, dated December 29, 1857.

The arms of the squares and the slides are graduated to correspond with each other.

The device is used as follows :Suppose a log of winding or irregular form is to be marked or lined off so that it may be hewed square. The log designated by B is propped up or supported in any proper way and a square A is placed on each end of the log, see Fig. 2. The operator then takes sight over the two squares and if they are not in the same plane, one or both squares are wedged or raised at either side until they are both brought in the same plane. The wedges are shown in Fig. 1 and designated by (b). The slides (a) are then moved on the arms and brought in contact with the log and secured against it, by means of the set screws (0), see Fig. 2, in which the arms (a) of the squares are represented as bearing upon the upper surface of the log, the arms (1)) at the right side, the slides of the arms (6) at the bottom and the slides of the arms (a) at the left side. The two squares being adjusted or brought in the same plane by means of the wedges, holes are picked in the log at each side at corresponding distances which are ascertained in consequence of having the slides and arms of the squares graduated; for instance, if a prick is made in one side of the log at the inch mark on the slide a prick is made in the opposite side of the log at a corresponding point designated by the inch mark on the arm (7)), each side of the log, at each end, is pricked in the same way and the squares are then detached from the log which may be readily lined from the marks previously made. This pricking of the log will be understood by referring to Fig. 1, the pricks being designated by (0).

This device may be used not only for marking ofi' square timber for all kinds of framings whatever, but also for marking off rough hewed logs for counter hewing. The usual way of performing this work is to place a straight-edge on each end of the log or stick to be squared and then planing or hewing off the ends until the straightedges are brought into the same plane. By this means one plane surface is obtained and the other sides are worked from it, as it is technically termed, for one plane side being obtained the ordinary trying squares may be used as guides for obtaining the other sides.

It will at once be seen that there is a very appreciable advantage attending the use shown and provided With slides (0) also of my device, for the Work may be marked graduated and arranged substantially as and off at once, and expeditiously and accurately. for the purpose herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, What JACOB HOKE. 5 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let, Witnesses:

ters Patent, is J. L. BROWN,

The graduated squares A constructed as H. H. PAINE. 

